Little Brass Squirrel with Nut Pipe Tamper (?) painted bisque doll The handle is carved black

The handle is  carved black horn

it will come off but can be placed back on once the slide is closed

which came from a fantastic set of handmade Punch and Judy puppets

and based on the patterns I think possibly Hopi

There is a label glued to the bottom of one indicating that it is based on the 1863 C

Little Brass Squirrel with Nut Pipe Tamper (?) painted bisque doll The handle is carved blackI've had this squirrel for a while, found at at estate sale at some point, and have always loved it as a little thing, holding a nut in its little hands, and with long flat tale as a handle. I'd think it a pipe tamper, but usually the tamping end would be more extended, so perhaps it was meant to press a wax seal, but was never engraved with a stamp? In any case, a sweet little thing, which stands on its own and can be moved around by the tail. 2 1 2"